Having a happy gut can go a long way to feeling better and managing chronic health issues. Chronic inflammation often goes hand-in-hand with chronic diseases, causing pain and a host of other symptoms throughout your body.

Thankfully, we can support our body’s ability to feel better by fueling up with whole foods that are dense with nutrients that the body can use to reduce inflammation.

These seven delicious recipes are anti-inflammatory and tasty, getting you one bite closer to a happy gut and healthy you.

Grilled chicken thighs with pineapple-mint salsa

To me, there’s nothing better than the crispy skin off of chicken thighs. This recipe takes them to the next level with a dose of tangy pineapple mint salsa.

Thighs are a relatively inexpensive cut of chicken, so this recipe is cost-effective, too. But the superstar ingredient is pineapple. It has an abundance of vitamin C, B vitamins, and minerals — and contains a special enzyme called bromelain, which helps support digestion.

Grass-fed beef and veggie burgers

Why grass-fed beef? Cows are ruminants and meant to eat mostly grasses. Yet, our modern agricultural system has turned to cheaper ways of feeding cows like wheat, corn, soy, and by-products, which also make the cows get bigger faster. When the cow eats foods it shouldn’t, it becomes unhealthy — just like us.

Broccoli cauliflower soup

This tastes like an indulgent cream-based soup, but instead uses dairy-free coconut milk. The recipe fits the criteria for many healing diets like paleo and AIP (autoimmune protocol).

Broccoli and cauliflower are both part of the brassica family, a nutrient powerhouse. Also called “cruciferous vegetables,” these goodies are especially high in carotenoids, which are the precursor to making vitamin A and are touted for their many health benefits.

Another star of this dish is bone broth. Bone broth is incredibly soothing to our gastrointestinal system. It’s a dense source of amino acids, minerals, collagen, and other substances that help to repair the gut lining. Try making it at home for the most cost-effective and delicious broth.

This soup gets bonus points because it’s freezable, which is perfect for fatigue-filled days.

Crispy drumsticks with balsamic fig sauce

In most places, fresh figs are seasonal, so get ‘em while you can. Figs are a source of potassium among other minerals, and fiber, which supports regular digestion. And they’re so tasty — whether they’re sliced up in salads or used in a heartier dish like this one.

Pan-seared lemon turmeric chicken salad

Turmeric is a spice that’s been used medicinally for years, especially in Ayurvedic medicine. Curcumin is the substance in turmeric that provides a potent reduction in inflammation.

Adding turmeric to your food is a simple way to kick it up with an anti-inflammatory punch! Pair it with lemon, another anti-inflammatory food that’s packed with vitamin C (crucial for the immune system) and helps with many digestive ailments.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

For the salad:

1 medium sweet potato

1 lb. chicken breast

1 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. turmeric

zest of 1 lemon, plus a drizzle of lemon juice

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 cup strawberries

6 cups fresh spinach

For the dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil

juice of 1 lemon

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/8 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper

Directions:

Use an already roasted sweet potato, or roast one medium sweet potato at 350°F for one hour, remove from the skin, and cut into rounds.

While the sweet potato is baking, set a large skillet on medium heat. Season the chicken on both sides with 1 teaspoon sea salt, turmeric, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Once the skillet is hot, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and add the chicken to the pan.

Flip the chicken after about 10 minutes, then cook for another 10 minutes. When finished, slice into strips.

Slice the strawberries.

Add the spinach to a large salad bowl. Place the sweet potato, chicken, and strawberries on top.

Now mix the dressing. In a small bowl, add 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, and black pepper. Mix well and drizzle over the salad before serving.

Alexa Federico is a nutritional therapy practitioner, real food and autoimmune blogger, and author of “The Complete Guide to Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis: A Road Map to Long-Term Healing,” now available onAmazon. When she’s not testing tasty recipes, you can find her enjoying her New England backyard or reading with a cup of tea. Alexa’s main hub is her blog, Girl in Healing, and she loves to show a piece of her world through Instagram.